Scotland can't cope with number of affordable homes needed to alleviate housing crisis

Thousands of young Scots are being priced out of buying homes and forced into the exorbitant private rental market.

And the situation is only set to worsen unless tens of thousands of affordable homes are constructed in the next few years.

Amid soaring house prices and tough new rules on mortgage lending, young Scots are being trapped in the private rental sector with no hope of becoming homeowners.

The findings come from the 2016 Scottish Household Survey, which also showed the overall number of homes in Scotland increased from 2.19 million in 1999 to 2.45 million last year - a rise of 11%.

Graeme Brown, director of housing charity Shelter Scotland, said: “A major shortage of social housing lies behind some of the rise in private renting, with many tenants forced into housing they wouldn’t live in if they had a real choice.

“We need a significant affordable house-building programme to tackle the shortage and in the meantime private renters need to see improvements in the quality of service they receive.”

Over the same period, the number of homeowners has slumped, while social housing is at a record low.

More than 370,000 Scots now rent privately often being charged huge amounts. The average monthly rent for a Scottish tenant in July 2017 averaged £630, up from £607 last year and is at the highest ever level.

Housing minister Kevin Stewart said: "We are doing all we can to help people get on or up the housing ladder.

“We have also reintroduced council house building, ended the Right to Buy, and have a target to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes during this Parliament, with 35,000 of these for social rent.

"This ambitious target is being backed by a £3 billion investment.”